Bush counts on the cowardice, disarray and complicity of the Democrats?

[Karmadillo]

Not a review of Bush's SOTU address one would hear from Tim Kaine, but it's worth a read, nonetheless. The figures regarding the increasing gap between the rich and the poor in America would make good ammunition for an opposition party that really wanted to be an opposition party.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/feb2006/unio-f02.shtml

Bush’s State of the Union address ignores social crisis in America

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Despite negative opinion polls and mounting scandals reaching into the uppermost circles of the Republican Party and the White House—involving such key figures as Karl Rove, Lewis Libby, Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay—Bush was able to speak with a degree of confidence in the knowledge that he faces no serious political opposition from the Democratic Party. The illegality that surrounds the administration was highlighted by the fact that Bush addressed the nation only hours after former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay, one of the president’s biggest financial backers, went on trial in Houston.

Rather than backing down, however, the Bush administration counts on the cowardice, disarray and complicity of the Democratic Party to press ahead with its reactionary agenda.

The spectacle in Washington only underscored the vast and unbridgeable chasm that exists between America’s money-besotted political and economic elite, and both of its parties, and the mass of working people.

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The president speaks for a ruling elite that is literally gorging itself. Two days before the former Texas oilman gave his address, ExxonMobil reported the highest profits in US history: $10.71 billion for the fourth quarter of 2005 and $36.13 billion for the entire year. The oil giant’s annual profits rose by 43 percent—despite a fall off in production—largely because of the post-Hurricane Katrina rise in gasoline and heating fuel prices that have imposed cruel burdens on ordinary people.

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Towards the end of his speech Bush said, “Even in the face of higher energy prices and natural disasters, the American people have turned in an economic performance that is the envy of the world.” The reality is that the American model of “free market” policies and deregulation is looked upon with fear and disgust by working people in Europe, Latin America and many other parts of the world. It would be more accurate to say that the level of social inequality in America is the envy of ruling elites of much of the world, who would like nothing more than to impose such conditions in their own countries.

more...

[Cocoa]

1. mentions Social Security only in passing

and makes no mention of the dems defeat of Bush's privitization scheme, and makes no mention of the dramatic scene where they stood up and applauded ironically.

[Talismom]

2. Unfortunately, we now know of 19 he can count on! n/t

[robbedvoter]

3. There's always a few good ones - never enough though.

The statement is correct unfortunately - 2 stolen elections have been ratified by the "opposition"...

[Talismom]

4. Makes me want to scream! n/t

[Skidmore]

5. He counts even more on the cowardice and dishonesty and corruption

of Rs.

It's time for us to quit calling them chickenhawks, and start calling them cowards. Calling continually for someone else's child to fight their wars is not an act of bravery. Every man who calls for war should be suited up and sent, regardless of age.